The Night of the Hunted [Blu-ray]

This movie is a psychological and sexy thriller starring one of the most beautiful women to have ever graced celluloid.... Brigitte Lahaie! Strangeness? Check! Skyscraper full of amnesia patients being experimented on? Check! Chase scenes/confusion/copious amounts of nudity/macguffins and deep twists/surprises? Check! Check! Check! Check! Check! Don't hesitate with these ltd releases by indicator/powerhouse films... Five Star All the Way!

Imagine a film set in a stark, clinically appointed urban apartment tower, populated by people that had been exposed to a nuclear disaster that is slowly erasing their memories and motor function, first reducing them to pure id and eventually leaving them as nothing but breathing husks. Imagine they’re trapped in this tower against their will by doctors looking for a cure at any cost, doctors who coldly euthanize them once they’re a liability. Imagine a film for which David Cronenberg did all the pre-production, then handed it off to Jean Rollin to film over nine days with the budget of a porno and you’re probably imagining Night of the Hunted. That last sentence is only half-true: Cronenberg had nothing to do with this (though there are major Shivers vibes throughout), but Rollin was indeed hired to direct a porn film and used the minuscule budget/time instead to riff on the emptiness of life without his favorite things: memory and nostalgia. In that way, this is a very unique entry in his filmography, because the concept, by its nature, keeps him from doting on his usual topics. Though Night of the Hunted ultimately feels undeveloped, hindered by its incredibly tight budget and production schedule, it’s still fascinating to see how an aesthete with a tendency toward the gothic interprets metropolitan frigidity through such a cerebral concept. Rollin once again casts Brigitte Lahaie as the lead, and she’s absolutely striking, carrying the film despite its sparse dialog and plotting. I was a little distracted by how much Vincent Gardère looks like David Naughton — however, no appearances from spectral best friends that are horribly mutilated. But I digress. Like many of Rollin’s films, I found myself unsure how much I liked it in the immediate aftermath, only to find later that its elemental allure had seeped into my brain folds. What initially seemed like a pleasant but trifling and kind of inertia-less detour now strikes me as a rich meditation on what could possibly remain of our humanity without our memories. Though Rollin is no stranger to endings that stick with you, Night of the Hunted features perhaps his most poignant, beautiful, and hopeful.

Not only was this movie w its twits n turns, what is the mystery of the black tower? Who wer those doctors? What was wrong w them n the first place?All these n more r answer n jean's twisted way, not to mention brigitte nude!!!N the two deleted sex scenes makes it a crime not to ownIf ur a jean rollin fan as I am, i would get this movie, jus to b a part of his legacyAs well as...DemoniacsFascinationR some of my highest rating for rollin's films, I bought this film,N u should TOO!!!

A Jean Rollin later film and classic starring one of my favorite Rollin girls Brigitte Lahaie with a mysterious sci fi plot, cold city setting, great cinematography & acid jazz score also has Lahaie's best sex scene! Watching these movies on blu ray is like watching them for the first time, high rewatchability if your into cool cinematography, french jazz & Brigitte Lahaie with amnesia escapeing from a ghostly hospital, which might be the cause of her memory failure highly recommended if you're into it

I have been watching Jean Rollins films for 30 years. This is a film that it took me a while to get to. It is really kind of interesting to be with these artists over a long period of time. And continue to catch up with there work over the years. Moreover, I saw Living Dead Girl (1982) before this film. And NOTH (1980) is the more modern film and is the earlier film, while LDG harks back to the Goth of the Vampire films. Further, although Rollins claims he is not political - this film seems to be commenting on the coldness and uncertainty of the modern world. Post-Vietnam angst among young people. Throw away children, disrespect for the young. Big Tech..!!! White collar espionage... Finally, Rolllins pacing in this film is spot on.. TY

The director Jean Rollin makes rather off beat films, a little strange using very beautiful women.

I'm very glad to own this film on Blu-Ray!!! And actress Brigitte Lahaie, is so hot in this film!!!!

I didn’t like it

Dieser 87:41 Minuten lange Film von Jean Rollin (1938-2010) aus dem Jahr 1980 ist einer der besten Rollin-Filme. Rollin, von Kritikern oft auf sein Faible für Softsexpassagen reduziert, schafft es hier tatsächlich, einen spannenden Mystery-Psychothriller zu schaffen, selbst wenn er auch in diesem Streifen auf Einlagen mit nackter Haut nicht verzichten wollte und es hierbei vielleicht etwas übertrieb.Die Hauptrolle spielte wieder die Pornodarstellerin Brigitte Lahaie, mit der Rollin unter dem Pseudonym Michel Gentil bereits ab 1976 einschlägige Filme drehte.Eine Frau flieht Nachts vor unbekannten Verfolgern, bis ein Autofahrer namens Robert sie mitnimmt. Sie kann sich an nichts bis auf ihren Namen Elisabeth erinnern, und vergisst gerade Gehörtes ebenso sofort wieder. Er nimmt sie mit nach Hause, und da er sich sofort in sie verliebt hat, möchte er ihr gerne helfen. Das Mädchen wurde jedoch verfolgt: Als Robert zur Arbeit muss, dringen der geheimnisvolle Doctor Francis und seine Assistentin in seine Wohnung ein und entführen sie. Sie bringen sie in den 30.Stock eines Hochhauses, in dem viele Menschen hausen, denen es ähnlich geht wie Elisabeth...Zwar ist das Drehbuch theoretisch ziemlich simpel und wurde von Rollin tatsächlich nur in einer Nacht geschrieben und mit praktisch null Budget in neun Tagen hauptsächlich mit Schauspielern aus dem damaligen Pornobereich heruntergekurbelt, ist jedoch handwerklich sehr gut mit einem Gespür für ästhetische Bildkompositionen der späten 70er umgesetzt. Die Kulissen sind untypisch für Rollin, kalte Hochhäuser aus Glas, Stahl und Beton, die die Entmenschlichung des Individuums bereits visuell symbolisieren. Zudem ist es einer der wenigen Rollin-Filme mit deutscher Synchro. Ein bißchen Bonusmaterial ( ca 90 Minuten), darunter auch ein interessantes Interview mit Lahaie aus dem Jahr 2006, gibt es auch.

magnifique édition par Encore Entertainment europe ( une division de Redemption films ) ; le packaging est superbe avec livret et 2 dvd ( 1 pour le film et un autre pour les bonus ) , avec la sublime Brigitte Lahaie un des égérie de Jean Rollin. On s'éloigne ici des vampires et cela change. En français avec plusieurs sous-titres, jaquette et livret en anglais ; images et son très bon, voir même mieux que le blu ray .

Cons: This issue does not have the original cover.Pros: Slow burner hold on, there is a big reveal towards the end. The closing shot is quite beautiful.

One of Rollin's best movies. No vampires but you gotta love Brigitte Lahaie.

Brigitte lahaie,nett anzusehen,schauspielerisch alle fürchterlich,handlung total sinn und planlos (wenn überhaupt beabsichtigt) grazy ??